Before you knew

78. Perspective.

The next evening Clay seems to avoid sleep. He's at his desk, on his computer till he nearly falls asleep behind it. I can't sleep because my chest hurt, so I have to watch the painful sight of him nearly slamming his head into the desk Ashe nods off to sleep every ten seconds.

'Clay.' He turns to me with half lidded eyes. 'Hmm?' I pat his side of the bed 'come to bed, you're tired.' I say. 'I have so stuff I need to finish.' He says as he turns back to the screen. 'No, you only have stuff you want to run away from.' He turns to me again 'do you just plan on not sleeping ever again?' I ask. 'No.' He grumbles as he gets up. He moves the sheets and drops down. 'You good?' I ask with a laugh. He groans into his pillow.

After a bit he finally lays down properly, falling asleep soon after.

=Clay=

'Lazy ass.' I say. Amelia hops down the stairs with a gin. It's nice how I can say anything to her and she won't get mad. Well I mean.... she could, but she knows I'm joking.

I take her bag from her as she slips on shoes and a jacket before heading out through the door I opened.
She heads out as I lock the door, when I turn back I see the man I met once. I quickly step towards her and grab her arm. 'Ahw.' She pouts as she looks up at me. 'We need to go back inside.' I say as I turn her around. 'What why?' She asks as she goes against my pull. 'Clay?' She turns her head and looks at what I saw.

Too late. He's too close now.
A fear similar too mine sounds on her voice as I pull her back with me.
'Unlock the door.'

I turn around and quickly get my keys out of my pocket.
I fumble with it till I have the right key.

'Amelia!'

The angry voice makes me hurry even more.
I unlock the door and turn around to grab her, but her fathers warning stops me.
'Not one step!'
He lifts his arm, aiming a pistol our way.
'Clay... call cops.'
Amelia's voice is blank. As if she's been expecting this.

Is this the reason she needed to leave?

I want to grab her and get inside as I carefully reach for my phone.
She quickly turns around. Slamming her shoulder into me so I stumble back.

'Wait!'

Too late.
The door slams closed.
Keys turn in the lock.

'Amelia! Open the door!'

My voice crack.
Small steps towards the stairs in front of the front door.
I hear the taunting laughing from her father as I try to open the door.
Its no use, yet I have to find a way.

'So you love him?'
'He has nothing to do with this.'

Yet I do.
I have everything to do with this.
I made her come back,
And now I'm locked inside our home,
While she has a gun pointed at her.

She walks down the steps.

'No!'
I yell as loud as I can as I bang on the door.
'Amelia!'

I try to open the door again, I try to kick it, punch it.
Nothing works, and everything I try makes me feel like I'm further away.

'Im here to end it.'

My eyes snap up.
The man, steadily holding his pistol.
Towards his daughter of all people.

I move to the coat rack, trying every pocket for a key.
I know there's little chance, but I have to try.
I need to get out there.

One shot.
It makes me jump and fling myself at the door.
She's standing.
Her father moving to point the pistol towards her again.

He walk up to her, quick and big steps.
Within second the situation got worse.

I helplessly look at my phone on the other side of the door.
I dropped it when she pushed me. I can't see what's happening, nor can I hear. But he's standing way to close to my liking.

And then.

A muffled gunshot reaches my ears.

Her father stepping back from her.
She reaches to her chest, but I can't see what happened.
'Amelia!'
She must have gotten shot.
She must be hurt.

I slam on the door as hard as I can,
Till at one point.....

My hand breaks through the window in the door. I break more of the glass, clearing enough so I can grab the keys and unlock the door. And I do. I unlock the door and sprint out, nearly tripping over my own feet and nearly falling down the steps. Her knees give out as she starts to fall, but I'm close enough now.

Close enough to catch her.